The Money Issue Rick Steves Warns Travelers To Be Aware Of (And What To Do If It Happens)

As much as traveling to another country is exciting and something everyone should experience, for newbies, there can be concerns. From coping with culture shock to navigating a country where you don't speak the language, it's normal to have more than a few worries. One of the big questions that comes to mind for many is one that can make or break your trip: Will my U.S. card work?

According to Rick Steves, in most cases, you shouldn't have a problem using your credit or debit card, especially if it's Visa or Mastercard. "On rare occasions, you may run into a situation where your card doesn't work," he explained in a blog article. "This is most likely to happen at self-service payment machines (such as transit-ticket kiosks, tollbooths, or fuel pumps), especially if you don't have a tap-to-pay card or mobile device." This could possibly be due to the fact that European cards use chip-and-PIN technology to confirm identity, whereas American cards use chip-and-signature cards. In my personal experience, I've only ever needed to sign for anything over 50 euros, but if you're using a kiosk and there's no place to sign, that could be the problem.

Speaking to U.S. News and World Report in May 2026, founder of Points Path, Julian Kheel, explained, "Card technology has improved and been standardized across the globe in many places, so using your tap-and-pay card or even mobile phone will typically work almost anywhere." However, Kheel did add that calling your bank and letting them know you'll be using your card in another country, especially if that country has a reputation for making fraudulent charges, is always in your best interest.

First things first: don't freak out. Letting yourself get stressed out over a little glitch isn't going to help. Secondly, if it's a self-service machine that's giving you a hard time, locate a cashier who can process what you're trying to purchase for you. Because you never know what the situation might be at places where self-service kiosks are most common, like train stations and similar venues, Rick Steves advises giving yourself plenty of time. After all, you might not be the only traveler having issues with your card, so you may find yourself in a very long line.

If the card still doesn't work with the cashier, you're going to have to call your bank, as there's a chance they've put a temporary hold on it if the system flags your card activity as fraudulent. Should your bank not be able to remedy the situation, even after the hold has been removed, then there's cash. It's always a good idea to have some of the local currency on you for moments like this, as well as at least $100 USD in cash for emergencies, so you can exchange the latter if need be. Just be sure to secure your money, as well as important documents, in a money belt — it's a travel essential you should always pack. Steves suggests always having enough cash on you "to cover your day's key purchases." That way, if you're in a card-related pickle, your day doesn't have to be ruined by unnecessary stress and drama.